Browse Articles

VISTA drives pancreatic tumor progression through modulation of the tumor-associated macrophage polarity

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies due to its highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which limits effective therapeutic interventions. Here, we demonstrate that V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) plays a crucial role in orchestrating macrophage polarity within the PDAC TME. Using murine PDAC models, we show that VISTA deficiency markedly impairs tumor growth, leading to prolonged survival. Functionally, VISTA deficiency is linked to a shift in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from an immunosuppressive phenotype marked by secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), to one enriched for C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), indicative of a pro-inflammatory state. This shift is accompanied by enhanced recruitment of CXCR3⁺ CD8⁺ T cells with sustained cytotoxic potential, among which terminal exhaustion-like CD8 + T cell states are less prevalent. Additionally, VISTA-deficient TAMs exhibit increased antigen cross-presentation, further amplifying CD8 + T cell response against tumors. These findings are corroborated by human PDAC data, which reflect similar immune reprogramming trends. By defining the role of VISTA in controlling Cxcl9:Spp1 ratio and modulating CD8⁺ T cell dynamics, this study positions VISTA inhibition as a promising strategy to reshape the TME and potentiate anti-tumor immunity in PDAC.

Shaping science: Scholarly motivation and research outcomes in NIH-HEAL funded studies

In 2018, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Helping to End Addiction Long-Term ® (HEAL) Initiative to advance addiction and pain research and clinical practice. The NIH-HEAL Initiative supports investigator-initiated research across diverse focus areas, allowing scientists discretion in selecting research topics, methodologies, and outcomes while still remaining subject to NIH’s peer review process. This study aims to answer the research question: what do investigators of NIH-HEAL funded studies define as important knowledge, particularly in relation to growth in empirical studies and clinical policy? By examining how pain and addiction researchers define what knowledge is important to produce, this study offers novel insight into how research priorities take shape and why this matters for science and clinical practice. To answer this research question, we conducted a directed content analysis of 1,068 NIH-HEAL funded study abstracts published on the NIH RePORTER website. Our findings suggest that while the scope of the NIH-HEAL funded studies is broad, there are common identifiable patterns that exist within the funded research portfolio such as a preference for treating pain and addiction conditions with prescription medication (33.80% of pain studies, 34.17% of opioid use disorder studies) and a narrow focus on intervention efficacy (43.21% of pain studies, 39.22% of opioid use disorder studies). This analysis is important for the scientific enterprise and clinical practice as prior literature has painted research as inherently influenced by the values of a scientist and of their discipline. By identifying what social and empirical problems NIH-HEAL funded investigators identify, their proposed solutions, and the outcomes they prioritize, this study carries important implications for grant-funding agencies, scientists, and the people who need and receive treatment for pain and addiction conditions.

Spatial distribution of selected coastal Sabkhas along the Southern Red Sea Coast of Egypt

Abstract Sabkhas are unique salt flat formations situated along the coastline and have been the subject of extensive scientific inquiry. This study delves into the formation and significance of sabkhas, along the South Red Sea coast of Egypt. Combining field observations, satellite imagery, and GIS analysis, the research unveils the processes shaping these distinct landscapes and their broader impact on the region. The study utilizes Sentinel-2 A imagery and digital elevation models to map salinity and identify optimal methods for salt detection. It further employs advanced data processing techniques to refine land cover classification and identify unique features within four sabkhas along the Red Sea coast: Ras Baghdadi, Marsa Abu Madd, Bir Shalatein-Marsa Himeira, and Diib. Examining these sabkhas reveals intricate details of their topography, hydrology, and sediment composition. The study identifies factors contributing to their individual characteristics, such as structural control, interaction with lagoons, and the influence of wind and aridity. Analysis of satellite data and field observations unveils the presence of salt ponds, dunes, microbial mats, and distinct sediment layers within these formations. Evaporite crystals, halophytic vegetation, and color patterns provide further insights into their formation processes. The study emphasizes that sea level fluctuations, fluvial and aeolian processes, and limited human intervention have shaped the temporal evolution of these sabkhas. However, climate change poses significant future challenges. By highlighting the importance of understanding and preserving these ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems, this research underscores the urgent need for their protection in the face of a changing climate. Graphical Abstract

Tubulin transforms Tau and α-synuclein condensates from pathological to physiological

Adoption and implementation of teleaudiology as a telehealth model in Jordan and Arab countries: A cross-sectional survey

Background and objectives Telehealth is the provision of healthcare services remotely via telecommunications technology. The implementation, clinical applications, and perceived effectiveness of telehealth among audiologists across the Arab region, particularly following its accelerated adoption due to the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2024 among 194 audiologists from multiple countries. A non-probability purposive sampling approach was implemented. The respondents were grouped into providers and non-providers of telehealth services. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, service delivery models, telehealth applications, training background, and perceived challenges. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to identify predictors of teleaudiology adoption. Results 46.9% of the sample reported providing telehealth services. Many of them (69.2%) indicated that they began offering telehealth services following the COVID-19 pandemic. Synchronous delivery was commonly utilised. Younger professionals and those employed in public institutions were more likely to engage in remote service delivery (p< 0.05). Barriers included limited formal training and limited infrastructure. Remarkably, 94% of non-providers expressed interest in implementing teleaudiology in the future. Conclusions The audiologists’ reported perceptions and experiences indicate that teleaudiology remains limited in clinical diagnostic service delivery. Broader integration of teleaudiology practices may benefit from enhanced professional training, the development of standardised guidelines, and investment in technological infrastructure to support access to remote hearing healthcare.

Ginsenoside Rb1 alleviates endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling in preeclampsia via activation of the PI3K-Akt-eNOS pathway

Integrative epigenomic landscape of Alzheimer’s Disease brains reveals oligodendrocyte molecular perturbations associated with tau

Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between grit and life satisfaction in a sample of employed university students resident in the United Arab Emirates

Balancing academic and professional responsibilities presents unique psychological challenges for employed university students. Most existing literature on this student population has adopted a deficits-approach. However, identifying the strengths inherent in such individuals could offer valuable avenues for informing strategies to reduce their risk of psychological distress. This study examined whether self-efficacy impacts the relationship between grit and life satisfaction among employed university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was employed with data collected from 242 employed university students residing in the UAE. Participants completed a self-report survey that comprised of measurements of grit, self-efficacy and life satisfaction. Grit was significantly and positively associated with both life satisfaction and self-efficacy. Additionally, self-efficacy was found to significantly mediate the relationship between grit and life satisfaction in this sample of participants. This study identified grit as a potential factor that could be harnessed to improve life satisfaction, through the mediating role of self-efficacy. These findings hold important implications for informing strategies to promote positive mental health outcomes among employed university students who possess the strength of grit.

Corrosion mitigation of carbon steel in acidic solution using ionic liquids based on chemical, electrochemical, and characterization studies

Subcellular proteomics reveals a blueprint for endosymbiont integration in trypanosomatid Angomonas deanei

Abstract The acquisition of endosymbionts is a fundamental process that has driven the evolution of eukaryotes. The tree of life is filled with cases of internalised prokaryotes that have become integrated into their hosts, often forming mutually beneficial relationships. The trypanosomatid Angomonas deanei is one such case, harbouring a single β-proteobacterial endosymbiont. This symbiotic relationship is highly advanced, as evidenced by the identification of host-encoded proteins that are targeted to the bacterium and control its division. To deeper understand this integration, we performed an in-depth subcellular proteomic analysis to determine the compartmental localisation of both host and endosymbiont proteins. Our analysis resolved over 5,000 host proteins and over 400 endosymbiont proteins. We used this rich dataset to identify several novel host-encoded proteins targeted to the bacterium, and validated our predictions using genetic manipulations and microscopy. By mapping the localised enzymatic repertoire, we were able to shed light on metabolic interplay between the two organisms. We confirmed an energetic basis for the previously observed association between the host’s glycosomes and its endosymbiont, and discovered an interaction between the endosymbiont and the host’s acidocalcisomes. This subcellular proteomic dataset provides a comprehensive foundation for future research into the remarkable process of bacterial integration.

Comprehensive post-marketing safety evaluation of atezolizumab: A disproportionality analysis based on individual case safety reports in the FAERS

Atezolizumab is a widely used immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for cancer treatment, and postmarketing testing is important. This study aims to provide a reference for the safe and rational use of drugs in clinical practice by mining and analyzing the adverse event (AE) signals of atezolizumab on the basis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). This research extracted AE reports from the second quarter (Q2) of 2016 to Q2 of 2024 from the FAERS. AEs were standardized and classified on the basis of the System Organ Class (SOC) and Preferred Term (PT) from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) version 23.0. This study utilized disproportionality analysis (DPA) for signal mining and analysis, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR) method, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) method, and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) method. We obtained a total of 3,124 AE signals and identified 640 PTs and 21 SOCs for atezolizumab. The highest signal intensity was systemic immune activation (n = 15, ROR = 449.20, PRR = 449.07, IC = 8.06), and the most frequently reported AEs were death, pyrexia, infectious pneumonia, anaemia, and febrile neutropenia. The top 100 PTs in terms of signal intensity involved a total of 16 SOCs, including those associated with endocrine disorders; respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders; and renal and urinary disorders. This study revealed that AEs in the endocrine, respiratory and urinary systems need to be monitored in clinical practice.

The differences in levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the hair of wild terrestrial mammals with various feeding behaviour

Engineering molecular rotor-stator ligand architectures on copper nanoclusters for efficient photothermal conversion

Correction: Implementation and Staff Perceptions of a Quality Assurance System in a Finnish Private Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Application of data-limited methods to assess stock status and recommend management for Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) in Bangladesh coastal waters

Nucleotide-resolution mapping of regulatory elements via allelic readout of tiled base editing

An optimization scheduling model of multi-energy virtual power plants considering uncertainty constraints and multi-energy coupling characteristics

Existing research on virtual power plants (VPPs) has not fully integrated the coupling relationships among electricity, heat, hydrogen, and carbon, and scheduling strategies under uncertainty conditions remain imperfect. To address this gap, this paper proposes an optimization scheduling model for a multi-energy virtual power plant (MEVPP) that incorporates uncertainty constraints and multi-energy coupling characteristics. The proposed model integrates biomass co-combustion carbon capture power plants (BCCPP), power-to-ammonia (P2A), and low-carbon chemical production (urea synthesis) within a unified stochastic VPP scheduling framework, achieving multi-energy synergy and flexible coupled operation involving electricity, heat, hydrogen, and carbon. A scenario generation method based on Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) is adopted to formulate a stochastic scheduling model aimed at maximizing the expected total system revenue under wind and solar uncertainties. Simulation results demonstrate that compared to the baseline scenario without carbon capture, the proposed model reduces CO₂ emissions by 38.5% (from 10,000 t to 6,150 t) and total costs by 75.1% (from $800,000 to $199,200) in the optimal scenario. Carbon trading price sensitivity analysis shows that emission reductions can reach 30–38% through constraint adjustments. These findings provide practical insights for system operators and policymakers in advancing low-carbon energy transitions, particularly for China’s dual-carbon goals.

Psychometric properties of the WHO-VFQ-20 questionnaire for assessing vision-related quality of life in Brazilian urban populations with different vision status

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the 20-item WHO-Visual Functioning Questionnaire (WHO-VFQ-20). Ordinal data and Rasch analysis were performed to determine instrument precision (internal consistency and reliability) and validity (fit statistics and dimensionality). The WHO-VFQ-20 was administered to 606 adult participants with different ocular conditions and visual acuity levels, stratified by age, sex, and socioeconomic status, from three Brazilian urban populations—a public hospital and two non-governmental institutions located in the outskirts of Sao Paulo city. Ordinal data analysis showed a mean global score of 59.6 ± 25.0 s.d., which consistently reduced with decreasing visual acuity. Higher scores were significantly associated with better overall health, higher education, and being married/cohabitating. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.94 indicated excellent internal consistency. Rasch analysis demonstrated good measurement precision with reliability coefficients of 0.99 and 0.85 for items and persons, respectively. Three items related to ocular pain and mental well-being were identified as misfitting. The variance explained by the measures suggested multidimensionality. Analyzing the instrument as two components (visual functioning and psychosocial functioning) yielded improvement on model fit, indicating acceptable precision and validity of the WHO-VFQ-20 for assessing vision-related quality of life in adults from urban areas of a middle-income country.

Dual slab stagnation depths controlled by grain-size-induced sporadic low-viscosity zones at around 1000 km depth

Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells alleviate skin inflammation by modulating neutrophil extracellular trap formation and T cell migration

Skin inflammation arises from complex interactions among immune cells, particularly T cells and neutrophils. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit potent immunomodulatory properties, but the specific roles of tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) in regulating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and cell death, as well as T cell migration in inflammatory skin conditions, remain poorly defined. In this study, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of T-MSCs were investigated in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced skin inflammation model, with a focus on NET formation and T cell migration. T-MSCs were intravenously administered to mice with DNCB-induced skin inflammation; inflammation severity and immune cell dynamics were evaluated using histological analysis, flow cytometry, immunostaining, microarray profiling, NET assays, and T cell migration assays. T-MSC treatment reduced DNCB-induced skin inflammation, as demonstrated by decreased epidermal thickness and neutrophil infiltration. Although T-MSCs enhanced NET formation in vitro , they suppressed neutrophil accumulation in vivo . T-MSCs also modulated the distribution and activation of T cell subsets in the skin and secondary lymphoid organs. Gene expression profiling revealed that T-MSCs regulated pathways associated with inflammation and neutrophil activity, including those involved in immune cell trafficking and NET formation. Moreover, T-MSCs promoted T cell migration, although this effect was influenced by neutrophil presence, indicating complex interplay among immune cells. These findings demonstrate that T-MSCs exert anti-inflammatory effects in DNCB-induced skin inflammation by modulating NET formation and T cell migration, revealing a novel immunoregulatory mechanism and supporting their therapeutic potential for inflammatory skin diseases.